Our print publications are advertiser supported. For those wishing to access our content online, we have implemented a small charge so we may continue to provide our valued readers and community with unique, high quality local content. Thank you for supporting your local newspaper.

Program helps preserve Roxborough State Park

John Liberatore

Posted
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 9:38 am

Guest column by John Liberatore

Roxborough State Park is a National Natural Landmark, a Colorado Natural Area and a National Archaeological District that has been established to protect the scenic beauty and resource diversity of the park and surrounding area. Because Roxborough State Park is considered by many as one of the “crown jewels” of the Colorado state park system, many visitors come to enjoy the park’s beauty, unique geology and rock formations, abundant and diverse flora and fauna, and the oneness they gain with nature during their hikes.

To minimize the adverse impacts being seen at the park as a result of increased visitation and some of those visitors not recreating in a responsible way, Roxborough State Park has created a partnership with the national program Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Through funding from nonprofit organizations, including the Colorado Parks Foundation and the Friends of Roxborough State Park, and additional support from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the park’s staff and a volunteer naturalist team are implementing a comprehensive program to help all visitors learn about minimal impact hiking and recreation as part of the overall Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics initiative of “Leave No Trace in Every Park.”

The park staff and its 110 volunteer naturalists are deeply committed to protecting and preserving the beauty of the park by educating the public through the Leave No Trace program. This program includes educating Roxborough visitors on the seven principles of Leave No Trace to help ensure they recreate in an environmentally responsible way. These principles are: (1) Know Before You Go, (2) Stick To Trails, (3) Trash Your Trash, (4) Leave It As You Find It, (5) Be Careful With Fire, (6) Keep Wildlife Wild and (7) Share Your Trails. The park is focusing on programs for the public, local schools, Junior Naturalists, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and all park visitors.

To find out more about the Leave No Trace program at Roxborough State Park and its 2018 scheduled activities and events, you can visit the park’s website at cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Roxborough or by directly contacting the park at (303) 973-3959 or at roxborough.park@state.co.us. To learn more about Leave No Trace, visit www.LNT.org. To learn more about the Colorado Parks Foundation, visit www.coloradoparksfoundation.org. Information on the Friends of RoxboroughState Park can be found on the park webpage shown above.